On December 18, 2019, The Department of Labor and Employment, in venue-partnership with Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, conducted an event at the MCM Plaza in line with their Project Angel Tree — an endeavor spearheaded and organized by DOLE in the pursuit of helping identify and fulfill the wishes of at least one-hundred child laborers in Davao City.
100 child laborers attended the event from 21 Barangays like Barangay Los Amigos, Ma-a, and Matina Crossing to name a few. These are the first batch for the year to be identified and attending the Project Angel Tree event.
The event began at around 10 AM with welcome messages from the Regional Director of DOLE Region XI, Dir. Raymundo G. Agravante; a message spoken by Monjid Abpi in behalf of Hon. Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod, 2nd District City Councilor and Chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children & Family Relations; and Hon. Pamela Librado-Morata, 1st District City Councilor and Chairperson of the Committee on Labor & Employment.
Then, a distribution of gifts from the Project Angel Tree Community Establishments to the children — these gifts were specially requested by the children and then fulfilled by the partnered Angel Tree Community establishments: Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Abreeza Ayala Malls, AEF Cutting Edge Ads, Davao Light & Power Company, JTC Group of Companies and Toyota Inc., to name a few of the establishments who provided gifts on the children’s wishlists.
Thereafter, various parlor games were played with the children to keep them energized and having fun. Each game was injected with a lesson that a certain Child Labor Enumerator would teach the kids as they were playing. The game ‘Save the Family Member’ was facilitated by Val Ordinand B. Olayan, a BS in Psychology Major who taught the kids that the family is something that we should cherish and rely on. Next game was ‘Walk Like A Duck’, presented by Tracy Leah Lee M. Dolaoco, BS Psychology Major, who taught the lesson that you shouldn’t let problems stop you from reaching your goals; and lastly, the game ‘Longest Line’ organized by Alyssa Jane Delalamon, BS Psychology Major, taught the lesson of there being success in unity.
The event ended with a pictorial with the Davao City Inter-Agency Task Force Against Child Labor with Batang Malaya; and a Thank You Message from the Batang Malaya Team Leader and Closing Message delivered by Maria Cecilia A. Gravino, Supervising LEO in behalf of Erlinda G. Mamitagfrom, Chief Labor & Employment Officer of the Davao City Field Office.
Project Angel Tree was an endeavor organized by DOLE, and continues to be worked on to reach the goal of helping 1 million children be free from labor and helping their Christmas wishes and needs come true. This community establishment that was created through Project Angel Tree is just the beginning in helping these kids.
Lariele P. Arce, Senior Labor & Employment Officer and Child Labor Program Focal Person, shared their rationale for programs such as these.
“Our program sa Department of Labor and Employment is the child labor prevention and elimination program. Eto po yung ginagawa namin na mabigyan namin ng assistance [sila] based on their needs… na at the end, mabigyan natin sila ng supporta. We will organize the parents, the families, of the child laborers para sila — instead na [ang mga bata] ang magtrabaho for their families, for their daily needs in education — their parents ang magprovide na sa kanila [para] maging batang malaya sila…”
The Project Angel Tree Community Establishment is composed of the following companies and organizations: Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Abreeza Ayala Malls, AEF Cutting Edge Ads, Skilled Management Corporation, Concorde International Human Resource Corporation, Sophia Jewellery Inc., Davao Security and Investigation Agency, Starburst Marketing Corporation, DSG Sons Group of Company, Tnalak Multipurpose Cooperative, FVJ Overseas, Toyota Inc., LV Ledesma Construction, Inc., United Wil Manpower and Allied Services, Mafri Manpower and Allied Services, Hinex Manpower Agency, Mars Agri Ventures and Commodities Corp., Corporate Security and Investigation Agency, Inc., Meno Gaia Co., Ltd., Pacific Summit Enterprise Ventures, Mikosan Construction Services, Powertech Specialists Inc., Mithras Security Agency, Manuel Guianga Sirib Growers and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, NCCC Group of Companies, ACQ Solomonic Builders Development Corp., Placewell International Services, Black Arrow Security Agency, RJS Industrial Construction and Development, Rosabaya Distributors Inc., Addis Security and Control Risks, Inc., Orient Express Recruitment Services, Inc., Precision Seals & Rubber Product Inc., JTC Group of Companies, DOLE Philippines Inc. – Stanfilo Division, Dermpath, Awesome OS Inc., Executive Genesis Manpower Services Inc., and Davao Light & Power Company.M
